Living a More Purposeful Life One Cent at a Time

Guest Post: 5 Smart Ways to Cut Down on House Cleaning Costs

Cleaning your home is not as simple as it might originally seem. Just consider the amount of money it costs you each month! Store shelves are overflowing with all sorts of cleaning tools, detergents and solutions. There’s a product for washing your windows, another for polishing wooden surface,s and yet a third one for cleaning your carpets and sofas. The options the store has to offer are endless, but there’s a limit to your budget. Look on the bright side of life – there are always ways to cut down on the monthly amount you spend on cleaning supplies and tools. Why not try these five smart ways to spend less money on housekeeping?

Baby Oil for Steel

If you’ve just welcomed a new member to your family, you probably already spend a good amount on diapers, baby formulas and clothes for the little one. This also leads us to the conclusion you’ve bought a bottle or two of baby oil. Guess what? You can use it to clean stainless steel too! And compared to the specialised steel cleaners, baby oil costs next to nothing. Dribble a few drops of oil on top of the surface and wipe it clean with a soft wet cloth. For more obstinate grime, add some vinegar. In case you don’t have a baby (and baby oil), try using some olive oil.

New Purpose for Old Items

There’s absolutely no need to throw away old t-shirts when you can use them for a new purpose. Spending money on paper towels is practically pointless when you can simply cut an old shirt to pieces and use it to wipe away dust and splatters from your furniture. Once your rags get dirty, just toss them in the washing machine with the rest of your laundry. Have any dryer sheets you don’t intend to use any longer? They’re ideal for cleaning your TV or computer screen, skirting boards, shower doors and all kinds of surfaces in general.

Concoct Your Own Cleaners

Most people opt for popular big brands when it comes to choosing the right detergents and cleaning products. You don’t have to do it, however. These may be effective but let’s not forget they’re also chemical laden, and if they’re not – well, that’s probably reflected on the price tag. You can easily mix up your own all-purpose cleaning solution to save a few pounds on cleaners. Here’s how you do it: in a spray bottle mix one table spoon of borax, one of baking soda, one spoon of liquid castile soap and several drops of your favourite essential oil. Add two cups of water and shake. Use your concoction to disinfect bathrooms, clean tiles and floors as well as kitchen counter-tops and appliances.

Hand Wash

If you’re living on your own or your family consists of two people only, there’s probably no need to use the dishwasher after each meal. Why not wash your plates and dishes by hand? This will help you cut down on your dishwasher detergents and on your electricity bill. Besides the amount of water required to fill a dishwasher exceeds the one you’d consume doing the dishes manually. The same, of course, is valid for your washing machine. If there are only two shirts and several pairs of socks in your laundry basket, wash them by hand – sure, it’s easier to toss them in the machine but you’ll be rewarded at the end of the month.

Carpet Clean on a Budget

Each time you return back home, you bring in itsy-bitsy pieces of the outside world – read slime, dirt, sand and dust. Eww! As you can imagine these will end up on your carpet when you tramp all over it in your shoes. If you want to save on a steam cleaning technician, you’ve got two options. The first one – take off your shoes. The second one – clean your own carpet. Mix baking soda, white vinegar, liquid dish soap and water in a bottle and spray on the stains. Let it sit for a while and rub them with a towel. The results are instantaneous! A little resourcefulness is the first tiny step towards a sparkling clean and well-maintained household. Besides it will take about a month for you to see the advantages of cleaning on a budget. Everything around the house will be shining and fresh and at the end of the month you’d be surprised at the amount of money you’ve managed to save. Why not spend them on a special treat? You know you deserve it!

The guest post is written by Kath from London. She is an experienced writer and DIY home improvement expert. Her cleaning business website is W9 DeluxeCleaners.

So Tell Me…What are your favorite tricks to cut back on the cost of a clean home?